From Ruth Heilman, Minister of Music …
Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Honey is mentioned 60 times in the Bible. It refers to blessings, sweetness, and good health. It was used to heal wounds and prevent or cure diseases. Honey serves as a natural preservative and contains essential minerals and antibacterial properties. John the Baptist had the right idea with his diet of locusts and wild honey. In Exodus 16:31, the manna God gave the Israelites is described as tasting like wafers made with honey. Psalm 19:10 says that God’s laws are perfect, “sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”
I confess that I have quite a sweet tooth, and I use honey for cooking and baking, but chocolate is often my choice. I’m a certified “chocoholic,” unable to walk by a plate of chocolate chip cookies without grabbing one, or maybe five… I’m even a bit of a chocolate connoisseur. Only the good stuff for me! Birthdays and anniversaries mean gifts of chocolate, specifically dark chocolate, from my husband. He knows me so well! Several studies proclaim dark chocolate as a health food in moderation, citing nutrients, antioxidants, positive impact on blood flow, and heart benefits.
If God’s words are “sweet to my taste, sweeter than honey (or chocolate) to my mouth,” we will crave them in the same way that we crave sweets. We won’t be able to pass up the opportunity to study His words. Thankfully, God’s words won’t hurt our waistlines in the way that honey or chocolate might, because the more we “consume” His words to satisfy our spiritual hunger, the more we desire them. So become a connoisseur of Scripture. Smother yourself with the rich sweetness of God’s words. Allow them to preserve your faith, sustain your spiritual health, and heal your emotional wounds. It’s the perfect diet!